The Foretelling

Lovely but somewhat slight coming-of-age novel of a queen-to-be in an all-female Amazonian society. I’m not sure exactly why I want to call it “slight”—perhaps because the narrator keeps us at somewhat of a distance (she keeps her emotions at a distance for most of the book as well) and the

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story at times seems spare in terms of what we actually get to see and feel. But plenty happens in the story, and it feels complete and worthwhile by the end. The writing is beautiful and obviously carefully crafted, and the whole novel has a poetic/mythic feel.

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A story of a warrior woman when Amazons reigned on the steppes. Told from the point of view of the Queen's daughter this is gripping stuff. It reads like she's telling the tale, like oral history passed on.

Great stuff.

This book was really scary! Well, not scary but really creepy and weird! I think that Rain, the main character, is definitely different from all the other people in her, sorta village. Definitely unique! I knew that from the beginning! This book was sorta predictable though...

Rain is the Queen-to-be, but at some point she doesn't know if that is actually what she wants. She is a prophecy for her people, and as she grows up she has to learn her place to accept or change things within her world.

This was a very quick read, and Alice Hoffman has a beautiful writing style

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that makes it move quickly. I moved between disliking and liking Rain as she matures. Not to spoil anything, but by the end I was impressed with her as a woman; she grew up well, despite the difficulties in her life.

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I was entranced by the desolate setting and the idea of an all-female clan. I enjoy books that make me think of a time, a place, or a culture I never had before. I thought I knew where this book was going, but I was wrong, and I enjoyed that surprise. The story felt satisfying despite its short

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length.

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Amazing--Inspirational. The writing was beautiful. I wish it had gone on longer, I'm sad it was so short.

Rain is destined to be the next Queen of the all female community. She finds this daunting especially as her mother, the current Queen, won't acknowledge her. Rain sees fit to challenge the system with interesting results. Very well written.

The Foretelling is Alice Hoffman’s fourth book for young readers, and what a great tale it is. Rain, the female hero, is a young Amazon princess who was born to Alina, Queen of the legendary Amazon warriors. She is destined to become the Queen of the Amazons, as told in the prophecies of her

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people. Told in spare, gorgeous way, we learn that Rain is raised by the other women of the tribe, her mother unable to be close to her as Rain is the child of a violent rape. Rain, like all girls of her tribe, is raised on mare’s milk (female horse) and nurtured with the strength of the warriors. She is a girl given to dark dreams and strange longings.
Rain is determined to win her mother’s love and become the best Amazon warrior there is. She practices constantly on her horse, learning tricks and becoming so one with it that she exceeds even Amazonian expectations. None of what she does wins her the love she craves though, and Rain grows up always feeling a bit different and alone. She must find her place within the tribe and become a Queen in her own right, and bring about a very different future for her people. This story is remarkable in its ability to bring a legendary and little-known culture to life. Alice Hoffman’s Amazons are larger than life, but very real and multi-dimensional. Rain’s quest to find herself and her place in the midst of war, turmoil and treachery is astounding and quite wonderful. It’s such an eloquent, believable and poetic story. I definetly recommend it!

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Rain, the product of a rape and shunned by her distant queen mother, struggles to find her identity and prove herself in a world where an Amazonian band of horsewomen warriors fight to defend their territory and sovereignty. Rain is a gifted warrior herself, but begins to question her tribe's

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combative, man-hating traditions and unlike the rest of her army, she does not find any pleasure in watching her enemies die. Haunted by a dream of a black horse, which is a common symbol of deal, Rain fears that her people will someday rise against her. After her mother dies giving birth to her second child, Rain is forced to determine the future of her community and her own.

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I am kind of under the impression that this book was marketed as a children's book, but really it is more appropriate for a young adult. I don't think mean appropriate regarding content, although I definitely think that some parts would go over a kids head, but I think it would be more interesting

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for a teen girl. This is the story of Rain, a product of the rape of the Queen of the Amazons. Because of the circumstances of her birth, her mother doesn't acknowledge her the way other mothers in the tribe acknowledge their children. The book tells the story of her life and how she grows and changes into the queen of the amazons. The writing style is almost poetic in a way and I was just completely caught up in the story. It's a quick read it gives a plausible story for how the amazons might have lived.

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I am kind of under the impression that this book was marketed as a children's book, but really it is more appropriate for a young adult. I don't think mean appropriate regarding content, although I definitely think that some parts would go over a kids head, but I think it would be more interesting

Show More

for a teen girl. This is the story of Rain, a product of the rape of the Queen of the Amazons. Because of the circumstances of her birth, her mother doesn't acknowledge her the way other mothers in the tribe acknowledge their children. The book tells the story of her life and how she grows and changes into the queen of the amazons. The writing style is almost poetic in a way and I was just completely caught up in the story. It's a quick read it gives a plausible story for how the amazons might have lived.

Show Less

I am kind of under the impression that this book was marketed as a children's book, but really it is more appropriate for a young adult. I don't think mean appropriate regarding content, although I definitely think that some parts would go over a kids head, but I think it would be more interesting

Show More

for a teen girl. This is the story of Rain, a product of the rape of the Queen of the Amazons. Because of the circumstances of her birth, her mother doesn't acknowledge her the way other mothers in the tribe acknowledge their children. The book tells the story of her life and how she grows and changes into the queen of the amazons. The writing style is almost poetic in a way and I was just completely caught up in the story. It's a quick read it gives a plausible story for how the amazons might have lived.

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Powerful adaptation of the Amazonian legends. Very emotional, very aware of human weakness. I really liked it.

This is darker than your usual YA book about girls and horses. It's told in a somewhat stilted tone - a first person monologue that does get a little tedious. I was worried for a little while that it would be an amazon princess discovers how great men are story, but luckily, it's not.

This was beautiful.

What a beautifully written book. It's a quick read and is beautifully written by a wonderful author. I enjoyed reading it.

Despite Hoffman’s elegant prose, this feminist/lesbian story comes off as a so-there counter punch to the Taliban ideology. What would a primitive tribe of women be like? Would they devalue men as mere slaves and sperm donors? I prefer Hoffman’s other works.

Not what I was expecting. I really liked it.
I liked the pacing of it and the way it was narrated.
Makes me want to read more about Amazon tribes.

The Foretelling by Alice Hoffman is the YA story of Rain, born of rape and shunned by her mother, the Queen of the Amazons. As the Queen’s daughter, she is destined to be the next Queen and so her life is one of strenuous training. The Amazons are superb horsewomen and warriors and Rain feels

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that she must be the best of them all. But even as she trains to ride, shoot and kill, she still feels unaccepted and alone. She has doubts as to whether she is meant to be the queen and when her mother gets pregnant, Rain is sure this new child will grow to take her place. She is also finding that her feelings toward her enemies is changing, she should be merciless and bloodthirsty but she finds that she feels pity for her enemies and during battle she is shocked to find herself giving mercy to men.

This was an excellent coming-of-age story as Rain questions her destiny and tries to interpret her prophecy with the help of the high priestess. She eventually understands what the future should hold for her and chooses to defy tradition. The author captures the primitive yet spiritual rhythms of the Amazons and instead of a straight forward novel, the book reads like a series of impressions as Rain grows and becomes a woman of strength and character. The Foretelling is a moving mythological story that is beautifully written, and although I found the characters fairly one dimensional, the author’s alluring imagery was a joy to read.

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I am kind of under the impression that this book was marketed as a children's book, but really it is more appropriate for a young adult. I don't think mean appropriate regarding content, although I definitely think that some parts would go over a kids head, but I think it would be more interesting

Show More

for a teen girl. This is the story of Rain, a product of the rape of the Queen of the Amazons. Because of the circumstances of her birth, her mother doesn't acknowledge her the way other mothers in the tribe acknowledge their children. The book tells the story of her life and how she grows and changes into the queen of the amazons. The writing style is almost poetic in a way and I was just completely caught up in the story. It's a quick read it gives a plausible story for how the amazons might have lived.

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Very short, which is my main problem with this YA novel. It's fascinating otherwise, and the language is very poetic. It's told first person by the princess of an imagined ancient Amazon clan.

Interesting coming of age story. Rain is born to the queen of a race of all female warriors. But she was the result of a horrible gang rape, and as a result her mother has rejected her since birth.

Still, Rain is determined to prove her worth to her people, becoming the best horse-woman in their

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society.

Really interesting look at a mythical race of Amazons. The women are the only people able to tame horses and bees, more fierce and powerful than any of the male dominated civilizations around them.

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